- Soviet submarine K-11
K-11 was a Soviet November-class (Project 627A) nuclear-powered attack submarine that had two reactor accidents during loading of reactor core in
Severodvinsk on February 7 and February 12,1965 . [http://book.uraic.ru/elib/pl/lodki/627.htm Атомные подводные лодки пр. 627 (Nuclear-powered Submarines of Pr. 627)] ] The accidents happened because of nonobservance of operating instructions by men participated in a lift of a reactor cover and mistake of arrived naval specialists who allowed to continue refueling after the first accident took place. There were no fatalities but those accidents (ejection of radioactive steam from the reactor in both cases and fire extinguishing in unwatched during 4 hours reactor compartment on February 12) caused a deterioration of radiation environment in several submarine compartments and nearby shipyard area, 7 men were exposed to radiation. [http://gr-obor.narod.ru/p658.htm Аварии на атомных подводных лодках (Accidents of Nuclear-powered Submarines)] ] The reactor compartment holding two reactor plants was removed, partially decontominated and sunk into Abrosimov Bay (east coast ofNovaya Zemlya ) in theKara Sea in 1966. A new reactor compartment was installed and the submarine continued to perform cruises since August 1968 (performed 5 long-range cruises in 1968-1970 including patrol missions in theMediterranean Sea , 4 long-range cruises in 1975-1977, 5 long-range cruises in 1982-1985). K-11 passed 220,179 miles till 1988 and was decommissioned on 19 April 1990. The submarine laid up in Gremikha Bay as of 2000.External links
* [http://spb.org.ru/bellona/ehome/russia/nfl/627.htm Bellona Report on Project 627, 627 A (Kit) November Class Submarines]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/row/rus/627.htm Federation of American Scientists - Project 627 Kit November Class Submarines]
* [http://spb.org.ru/bellona/ehome/russia/nfl/nfl8.htm#O8 Describes the 1965 incident that occurred on February 7 and 12]
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